Climate & Energy Blog

Freight train carrying ethanol derails, spewing flames

Posted Jul. 12, 2012 / Posted by: Michal Rosenoer

On Wednesday a freight train carrying ethanol derailed in Columbus, Ohio, putting hundreds of residents within range of blazing fires and facing the risk of water contamination. In response, the National Transportation and Safety Board evacuated over 30 homes and advised residents in the area to stay indoors.

The train derailed in the early hours Wednesday morning. Officials estimate that 11 to 13 cars came off the track, causing direct injuries to at least two people. Massive fires started almost immediately following the derailment. Officials decided to let the fire burn itself out instead of trying to extinguish it.

"I saw flames, and then I heard a loud sound, like a boom, and saw the flames shoot higher," resident Joel Priester said. "It looked like the sun exploded" (Michael Muskal, Los Angeles Times, July 11).

On the same day as the spill, a gas station in Lawrence, Kansas decided to be the first seller of E15, a new motor fuel that contains 15 percent ethanol. Currently, most gasoline in the U.S. contains up to 10 percent ethanol, so this new fuel represents a 50 percent increase over the current norm.